Richards Penn Bonner

10/07/2026

Another jury verdict today. Another jury asking: “Where was the insurance?”

During jury selection (voir dire), potential jurors repeatedly talked about insurance companies and their own experiences after a wreck. We had to bite our tongues. We couldn’t tell them what had happened in this very case.

And it was maddening.

Long before trial, State Farm admitted liability. State Farm acknowledged the total value of our client’s Jeep, which was destroyed in the wreck. State Farm put that value in a letter to our client.

Then State Farm refused to pay when their insured changed his mind about who was at fault in the wreck.

Did the jury hear those facts? No.
Did the jury hear the name State Farm? Not once. Did the jury get to see the letter from State Farm? Nope.

After the verdict, the questions came again: “Was there no insurance? Where was the insurance?”

Of course there was insurance! The jury simply wasn’t allowed to hear about it.

Jurors bring common sense and real-world experience into the courtroom. They know insurance is part of everyday life. Yet in cases like this, we ask them to decide the case with that part of the story hidden from view.

Justice was served today. But it is unfair to keep juries in the dark.

10/05/2026

🚨Richards Penn Bonner is proud to be a sponsor for National Night Out 2026! 🚨 We’re grateful to support an event that brings our community and local law enforcement together for a fun evening in Jacksonville. Come out and enjoy everything NNO offers!

10/02/2026

“WHERE IS THE INSURANCE COMPANY?”
That was the FIRST question the jury asked us after a recent trial.
And we collectively sighed.
Because here’s the frustrating part:
The insurance company is almost always there. We just can’t tell the jury about it. Sometimes, an insurance adjuster is even sitting in the courtroom as was the case for the entire time for that trial. The lawyers and Judge knew that the man in the courtroom who looked like an assistant was the insurance adjuster. The jury did not.

Yep. You read that right.

Like Bruno in Encanto: 🎶 We don’t talk about insurance. 🎶

Why?
Because insurance companies know that if a jury thinks an injured victim is asking a sweet, little old lady to personally pay a verdict out of her own pocket, that can dramatically change the way the jury views the case. The jury will think twice about this sweet octogenarian on a fixed income writing a check out of her limited pocket and adjust the request down accordingly.

But that’s usually not what’s happening.

In almost every personal injury case that actually makes it to a jury trial, there is an insurance policy behind the claim. We say almost because there are always exceptions. But for a lawyer to take on the massive expense of taking an injury case to a jury trial, its almost a guarantee there is insurance somewhere. And it is also almost always a guarantee the insurance company refused to pay the injured victim a reasonable amount.

The injured person is already dealing with:
💰 Medical bills
💼 Missed work
🚗 A damaged vehicle
⏰ Lost time
😣 Pain and other damages

They cannot afford a lawyer and trial bills on top of all of that! And collecting a judgment from an individual in Texas can be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

So when you hear, “The defendant was found liable and owes $___,” you might picture that defendant writing a very large check. That is rarely how it works. An insurance company is almost always the one writing the check—but the jury isn't allowed to know that.

Which brings us back to the jury’s question:
“WHERE IS THE INSURANCE COMPANY?”
Sometimes the biggest thing a jury wants to know is the one thing the lawyers aren't allowed to tell them.

Stay tuned. We’re going to keep pulling back the curtain on personal injury law and explaining the parts of the system that most people never get to see and importantly the why.

09/28/2026

📢Heads up! A traffic shift on US Hwy 69 is set to begin Monday after 8 AM. Expect delays, use extra caution, and give yourself a little extra travel time!

09/25/2026

Congratulations to Jill Penn on being named “Best Attorney” in the 2026 Best of Readers’ Choice Awards! We are incredibly proud to have Jill and grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and care she brings to our clients and community every day.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

09/16/2026

A 5-star review says it best. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We’re grateful for the trust clients place in our attorney’s and the RPB team. Thank you to our client, for the kind words and recommendation!

09/12/2026

A hacker took over Jill’s LinkedIn overnight and changed all log in association including the email associated with the account. So if you see strange activity on her page or the firm’s on LinkedIn, it isn’t legitimate. Don’t open any messages from Jill or RPB on LinkedIn. 🙄

09/07/2026

Hope everyone had a great & safe weekend. As a reminder our office is closed today in observance of Labor Day but we will resume normal business hours Tuesday!

09/04/2026

🚨 CHECK YOUR FREEZER! 🚨

Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold at Walmart has been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination — and Texas is one of the affected states. (https://www.kltv.com)

🍓 Check your freezer, check the label, and share this with someone who may have purchased it!

👉 Read the full recall information below.
https://www.kltv.com/2026/09/04/frozen-berries-sold-walmart-are-recalled-heres-what-know/

You may want to check your freezer; some frozen berries sold at Walmart have been recalled.